NEW YORK (Ticker) -- All that is left from this rivalry are the
memories.

In a game which even Spike Lee called "boring," the New York
Knicks set a club record for fewest points allowed since the
advent of the shot clock in a 79-63 victory over the remodeled
Chicago Bulls, who set a franchise record for fewest points.

Allan Houston scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the
field and Kurt Thomas added a season-high 17 points for the
Knicks, who targeted the Bulls during the Michael Jordan era but
consistently came up short.

"It was not Knicks-Bulls of old without Scottie (Pippen),
Michael and Dennis (Rodman), but we still have a job to do,"
said New York's Patrick Ewing, who hit just 4-of-15 shots from
the field and finished with 10 points and seven blocked shots.

With Jordan retired, this represented Chicago's only appearance
on national television. NBC provided just regional coverage of
this once-proud rivalry, and with good reason.

Even Lee, a director who has filmed commercials with Jordan and
a lifelong Knicks fan with courtside seats, called the game
"boring" in a first-half interview with network reporter Jim
Gray.

"You never had to get anyone's attention before the Bulls games,
but this is how it is," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Today
wasn't about statements and none of that. It was about taking
care of business, going out there, giving a professional effort
and playing hard. I think for the most part we did that."

The Knicks never trailed and held the Bulls under 70 points for
the second time this season. In the first meeting 10 days ago,
the Bulls scored a franchise-low 23 points in the second half of
a 73-68 loss to New York.

That began a stretch of four times in six games in which the
Knicks held their opponents under 70 points. Heading into this
season, New York had yielded less than 70 points in a game just
five times in their history since the advent of the shot clock.

"That's (defense) been our catalyst," Houston said. "We wanted
to make sure that we were about what we do best and that's
playing defense. We knew if we did that, they would have a tough
time."

Meanwhile, the Bulls suffered their seventh straight loss,
matching their longest losing streak since February 1986. They
have averaged just 74 points during the skid. At 1-8, they are
off to their worst start since they opened 1-10 in 1978-79.

Brent Barry led the Bulls with 19 points but his teammates
combined to hit just 17-of-56 shots from the field. Toni Kukoc
had 16 points, hit just 6-of-19 shots.

"There's no doubt that we are struggling offensively," Barry
said. "We are learning the system. We have to have guys really
understand what is going on out there on the floor."

In the fourth quarter, Chicago went without a basket for 8:31,
missing 13 straight shots until rookie Kornel David converted a
three-point play with 1:20 remaining.

The Knicks' previous record for fewest points allowed was an
82-64 win over Indiana on December 10, 1985. Chicago scored
just 63 points on December 19, 1994 against Cleveland while
Jordan was in his first retirement.

"We are simply not scoring points," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said.
"We have to get better shots and better opportunities."

"We don't think about what players they used to have," Houston
said. "We just have to go out and play the best we can."

Coming off a 5-of-5 performance from 3-point range Friday at
Philadelphia, Houston heated up quickly, hitting his first five
shots and scoring 11 points in the first quarter to help the
Knicks build a 23-16 lead. Barry nearly matched Houston with
nine points.

Houston started the second quarter with a layup and 3-pointer
and Larry Johnson added a basket to increase the advantage to
30-16.

The Knicks opened their biggest lead of the half at 40-25 on a
17-foot jumper by Patrick Ewing with 4:54 left. Ewing hit just
4-of-15 shots and finished with 10 points.

A pair of jumpers by Kukoc helped the Bulls close the half with
a 10-2 run to pull within 42-35.

The Knicks scored the first seven points of the second half on a
layup by Thomas, a free throw by Houston and two free throws and
a jumper by Ewing. But the Bulls hung tough and trailed just
59-52 entering the final period.

A 3-pointer by Ron Harper pulled the Bulls within 61-57 with
9:51 left. But a corner jumper and a three-point play by
Houston ignited a 14-1 run which put away the game.

"We finished strong, which we haven't done all the time in the
past," Houston said.